Herbicides

Question 1

What are herbicides?

Answer 1

Chemical sprays that kill weeds

Question 2

How to the different 3 types of herbicides work?

Answer 2

1. Pre-emergence herbicides- sprayed before weeds emerge. In surface layers of soil, but absorbed by weeds roots and inhibit germination of young seedlings.
2. Contact herbicides- sprayed onto established weeds and kill green part of vine.
3. Systemic herbicides- sprayed onto established weeds and taken in by leaves. Herbicide travels up and down weed through sap and kills whole plant.

Question 3

What are the advantages of herbicides?

Answer 3

Cheap- labour and equipment
Highly effective- especially in under row area
Less damaging to soil structure than cultivation

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of herbicides?

Answer 4

Risk of poisoning consumer, environment, operator and doesn’t encourage vineyard ecosystem.
Not organic/bio.
Weeds can become resistant= larger doses/diff chems. eg in South Africa- problems with glyphosate resistant ryegrass.
Can increase vine vigour too much